But the real news is that left fielder-first baseman Kyle Blanks could also go on the disabled list before the April 5 season opener.

With Quentin sidelined following knee surgery, Blanks was expected to compete with Jesus Guzman in left field.

But Blanks turned up with a very sore left shoulder on March 19 — the same day that Quentin had arthroscopic surgery in San Diego to repair the torn meniscus and have particles removed from his right knee.

Blanks hasn’t played since, and Padres manager Bud Black said Monday that Blanks could be on the disabled list on Opening Day.

“We’re still trying to get a handle on it,” Black said of Blank’s injury. “There is some kind of an impingement ... we’ll see how it resolves itself in the next couple of days.”

Blanks had a cortisone injection on Thursday and says there is improvement in the shoulder. However, Black noted Blanks could be running out of time.

The manager said that Quentin’s injury “could have provided an opening” for Blanks. “But the window is closing,” Black continued.

There is no timetable for Blanks’ return and the season opener is just 11 days away, which could force the Padres to make a decision about Blanks going on the disabled list.

In addition to Blanks, second baseman Orlando Hudson, who started taking grounders Monday and is expected to return to the starting lineup as soon as Friday, is a question. Hudson has missed 11 of the past 12 days and is apparently suffering from an irritation in his right hip/pelvic joint rather than a right groin strain.

If Blanks opens the season on the disabled list, the Padres are likely to keep both Everth Cabrera and Andy Parrino on the Opening Day roster since both middle infielders have experience in the outfield. Keeping both would provide protection if Hudson is unable to go every day.

The next outfielder in line would be Jeremy Hermida, but he’s not on the 40-man roster — meaning the Padres would have to drop someone.

With Quentin and Blanks out, the Padres’ starting left fielder would be drawn from a pool of Jesus Guzman, Mark Kotsay and Chris Denorfia. Even with both Quentin and Blanks on the disabled list, the Padres will have five outfielders.

Blanked by Cubs

Four Chicago pitchers combined on a six-hit shutout Monday against the Padres.

Will Venable had two of the four hits to raise his average to .372. Matt Clark (.455), Jonathan Galvez (.379), Chris Denorfia (.375) and Jaff Decker (a triple) also had hits.

Potential Opening Day starter Tim Stauffer allowed two runs on seven hits and a walk in five innings.

“Tim wasn’t quite as crisp as he was against the Dodgers,” said Black referring to Black’s last start when he blanked Los Angeles over six innings.

“Each inning was a battle,” said Stauffer. “The pitch count was high (83 pitches) for five innings because I had too many deep counts, especially in the first two innings.”

Notable

Forsythe is expected to miss the first month of the season. He had surgery on March 9 to remove the fractured sesamoid bone from his right foot.

• Right-handed relievers Brad Brach (three) and Ernesto Frieri (two) struck out five of the six Cubs they faced.